Improvement in lamp-burners



-.|. B.. GRAYe Lamp Burne. N0. 38,950. Patrtd jUnQS, 17863.

inve?? for;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. GRAY, OF HUDSON, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAMP-BURVNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,960, dated June 23, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES B. GRAY, of Hudson, St. Groix county, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lamp-Burners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical diametrical section through the improved lamp-cap. Fig. 2 is a vertical diametrical section taken in the plane indicated by red line x x, Fig. l, with the Wick-tube elevated. Fig. 3 is a top View ofthe lamp-cap, showing the wick-'tube depressed and the upper portion of the cap moved to one side. Fig. 4t is a bottom view ofthe hinged portion of the cap. Fig. 5 is a vertical central section, taken through Fig. 3, in the plane indicated by the red line y y thereon. Fig. 6 ils a perspective view of the adjustable wicktu e.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention is intended to enable a person using lamps which have chimneys to them to either trim, f1ll, or light such lamps Without necessitating the removal of the chimneys.

It consists in the combination of a horizontally divided and pivoted lamp-cap with avertically adjustable wick-tube, which latter, on being depressed to its fullest extent, will allow the upper portion of the lamp-cap to be swung round so as to expose the wick in the upper end of the tube for lighting or trimming it, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the screw-cap, or that portion of the lampcap which is cemented permanently to the lamp. B is the lower portion of the divided lamp-cap, which contains and supports the wick-tube O 5 and D is the upper conecarrying portion of the cap which is pivoted to the lower portion, B, and supported thereon, as will be hereinafter described. The wick-tube C,which is ofthe flat kind,is supported in guides a a, which are secured respectively to the upper horizontal plate, b, and to the lower plate, c, of the cap portion B, and secured to this wick-tube is a hooked friction-spring, d, which servts the double purpose of preventing the" tube C' from casually slipping out of position, and also of prevcntin g the tube from dropping down farther than is represented in Fig. 5. The hook on this spring d, in this latter case, catches on the edge of the tube-slot in the plate b, when the tube is depressed to its low-l est point. The tube C thus held and supported is operated by means of a thumb-button, e, which is on the end of a short stem that carries on its inner end a spur-wheel, e', which engages with the teeth of a rack, f, affixed to one side of the tube C, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. It will be seen that by turning e in one direction the tube C will be elevated, and by turning it in the opposite direction this tube will be depressed until its upper end is level with the surface of plate b, which plate is the top of the lower portion, B, ofthe cap. This portion B is suitably perforated for the admission of air into it, which escapes from it through the perforated plate b, as indicated by the arrows'in Figs. l and 2, and impinges upon the flame. The upper portion, D, of the cap consists of a plate, b', corresponding in shape and size to the plate I), a cylindrical ornamental rim, g, and a cone, E, which is applied to the rim g in the usual manner of conining cones to lamp-caps. The spring-pin h is intended to confine the chimney to the rim, and this chimney is seldom removed therefrom except for cleaning it. The plate b' is also perforated, as shown in the inverted View Fig. 4, which perforations coincide with those through the plate b when these two plates are fastened in their places, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Both plates b b have projections s s formed on them, and these plates are pivoted together at the extreme ends of these projections, as shown at z', which is a vertical pivot-pin. This joint connects the two p ortions B and D of the cap together, and allows the upper portion with its cone and chimney to be moved round to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, thus uncovering the upper plate, b, and exposing the upper end of the Wicktube and the wick. The springpin j, Which is applied to the movable or hinged portion D, locks this portion in its place when it is in the position shown in Fig. l. The wick is adjusted in its tube C by means of two wickspurs, k, one of which is shown in Figs. l and 2, which are keyed to a short stern having on its outer end a thumb-button, 7c. The spurs k pass through oblong slots in the wicktube, and when the tube itself is moved the wheels k, with their stem,revolve, and therefore do not displace the wick. When the wick is adjusted by means of these spurs k, the friction-spring d holds the tube, and prevents it from being moved with the wick. From this description it will be seen that by combining a horizontally divided and hinged lamp-cap with a vertical wick-tube, I am enabled not only to obviate the necessity of removing the chimney from the la-mp-cap to light Vor to trim the lamp, but I can also adjust the Wick in the tube, and adjust both wick and tube together, for obtaining the proper position of the same with reference to the opening in the cone E, and thus regulating the intensity of the light and the height of the ilame. In short, this combination makes the horizontallydivided lamp-cap practically useful for all kinds of lamps requiring the use of the cone or its equivalent.

When it is desired to obtain access to the Wick in myimproved lamp-cap, the spring pin j is withdrawn from its catch, and thus released. The upper portion, D, is swung round on its pivot i in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Butbefore this can be done, it is necessary to first depress the wick-tube C until the hook. on the upper end of the spring d is stopped by coming in contact with the plate b, when it is known that the wicktube is in the desired position. The cap portion D can now be moved round, as shown and described. The wick necessarily projects above the wick-tube a greater or lest distance, and to prevent this wick from catching against the rim g, a slot, u, is made in the rim, which slot also extends through the perforated plate b, as shown in Fig. 4, but when the portion D is brought back to its place over the lower portion, B, the projecting lip p, Fig. 3, closes the opening n in the rim.

For filling the lamp without removing the lower portion, B, of the cap, a tube, G, is applied to it, as shown in Figs. Il, 2, and 3, which tube is closed by the blank portion G left on the plate b', (shown in Figs. l and 4,) when the cap D is in place, but when the cap D is swung round the tube G is uncovered.

I am aware that horizontally-divided lampcaps are not new, nor is the vertically adjustable tube new, when both are separately considered; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination ot' the divided lamp-cap with a vertically-adjustable wick-tube, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

2. The hooked friction-sprin g d, or its equivalent, in combination with the adjustable wick-tube and the divided lamp-cap, substantially as described.

JAMES B. GRAY.

Witnesses:

S. H. CLOUGH, LOU. J. HITZ. 

